For beatmakers, YouTube has become the quintessential ressource, whether it's to learn from the masters or to get a feel of what’s happening right now on the scene. There are YouTubers' channels, tutorials, beat cook-ups, archival footage… And then, there’s professionally produced content by companies like Genius.

Their series Deconstructed  is a goldmine of information for the modern hip hop producer. Top beatmakers share their tips, tricks and favorite plugins. Each episode focuses on a track of notoriety, retelling the creative process behind it as well as observing its various sonic elements. It’s always fascinating to see what details hide behind the beats backing today’s hits.

Here are my top 7 episodes:

7. The Making Of Juice WRLD’s  All Girls Are The Same  With Nick Mira

Nick Mira is part of the Internet Money collective and he has a great presence on YouTube, cooking up beats. I find it really inspiring to see how he works.

In this episodes, Mira explains how he used common beatmakers tools such as Nexus and Gross Beat to create entrancing melodies, which appealed to a then unknown Juice WRLD.

Essential quote : “When I structure my beats, really, I always like to have something different progressing, so it doesn’t get really repetitive. You obviously don’t want to have an 808, y’know, all these drums playing for 3 minutes, just straight, blasting bass in your ears, so… It’s nice to give the listeners, y’know', a good ear break.”

6. The Making Of Lil Pump's  Gucci Gang  With Bighead

A few of Pump’s collaborators can be seen throughout the series. The rapper seem to surround himself with beatmakers who are as, um, colorful as he is. Case and point : Bighead, the producer behind one of 2017’s most marking breakout hits, Gucci Gang.

In this episode, Bighead recounts how he stumbled upon the track’s signature pad sound by applying Gross Beat on a Dune preset, while Pump was playing basketball. The rest is history.

Essential quote : “I can’t make beats without having a full outfit on. Like, shoes and everything. Even when I’m at my house. Cause when I make a beat, usually I hate all my beats, that’s my problem. So I have to have at least a good outfit on and feel confident, so, I’m like : “OK, I can do this!”

5. The Making Of Lil Uzi Vert's  XO TOUR Llif3” With TM88

TM88 is part of the Atlanta-based collective 808 Mafia, along with Lex Luger, among others. The producer used a previous throwaway track to create his beat for Lil Uzi. He just sent 20 beats, and XO TOUR LIFE was one of them.

TM88 offers a few nuggets, for instance, saying you shouldn’t overuse effects on a mix and rather try to balance the volume of the various elements. He also tries to explain how Gross Beat works, although it becomes obvious that he’s not to sure himself. It’s a funny moment in this interview with a charismatic artist.

Essential quote : “Your percussion need to be on top of everything. Go back in history, from arabians to africans, when they did their music, all you heard was percussion and that’s what moved the music.”

4. The Making Of Post Malone's  rockstar  With Tank God

Tank God recounts how he created this beat during a short break from studying for his finals. He then met up with Post Malone per chance, at his friend’s studio.

The producer says how he much prefers to be in a session with an artist, rather than sending out beats which probably will never be touched. At a time when a lot of collaborations happen over email, it’s nice to see a beatmaker who values a personal approach.

Essential quote : “Put me in a room, I’m not trying to send no beats.“

3. The Making Of Rich The Kid’s “Plug Walk” With TheLabCook

TheLabCook sent his beat to Famous Dex, who passed it to Rich The Kid. The next thing the beatmaker knew, they were on social media, making what would become Plug Walk.

A producer with an exemplary work ethic, TheLabCook was surprised his beat became the basis for a hit. Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the best.

Essential quote : “I may not think that beat is that great, but a lot of it has to do with how the artist uses it.”

2. The Making Of Sheck Wes'  Mo Bamba  With Take A Daytrip & 16yrold

Legend has it that Sheck Wes performed this year’s breakout hit Mo Bamba in only one take. The producer duo Take A Daytrip tell how they constructed the beat, and how a computer malfunction was at the basis of one of the cooler moments of the song.

Essential quote : “If it wasn’t for these little imperfections (…) none of this would’ve happened.”

1. The Making Of Kendrick Lamar's  LOVE.  With Teddy Walton

Teddy Walton isn’t your typical producer, and he knows it. Describing himself as a simple person, he’d rather work from home at a slow pace, rather than spread himself thin. This is probably why his beats are so different than much of what others are making at the moment. Dense, minimal, soulful, modern… These are just a couple words that match his awesome music, and it certainly matches with Kendrick Lamar’s single LOVE.

Walton will always be one of those producers I watch to see what he comes up with a next. Whoever he works with, I’m sure it will be exciting.

Essential quote : “If you put me in a room with Kendrick, I’m gonna get somethin’ placed. Automatically.”